On the Way to Calgary
Devotions and prayers for the 2026 Leadership Gathering
Bishop Knut Refsdal
Northern Europe and Ukraine
Sunday, September 13, 2026 · Second of seven devotions
Seven bishops from across the connection are offering a devotion and a prayer on each of the seven Sundays leading to the Council of Bishops Leadership Gathering in Calgary, Alberta, October 20 to 24, 2026. You are invited to read, to pray, and to share these with your congregation.
Scripture
You did not choose me, but I chose you. And I appointed you to go and bear fruit, fruit that will last.
John 15:16, CEB
Reflection
As we prepare to gather in Calgary, many important questions lie before us: How do we lead faithfully in a rapidly changing world? How do we reimagine the Church for a new generation? How do we remain rooted in Christ while responding creatively to the challenges of our time?
Jesus begins with a surprising reminder: “You did not choose me, but I chose you.”
Before there is vision, planning, innovation, or leadership, there is grace. The Church does not begin with our ideas about God. It begins with God's initiative toward us. The Church exists because Christ has called a people into being and continues to sustain that people through the Holy Spirit.
This truth is both humbling and liberating. It reminds us that the future of the Church ultimately does not depend on our abilities alone. We are stewards, not saviors. We participate in God's mission; we do not create it. As leaders, we are invited to listen before we speak, to discern before we decide, and to trust before we attempt to control.
Yet Jesus does not stop with choosing. He continues: “I appointed you to go.”
We are chosen for a purpose. The Church is not called merely to preserve what is familiar but to join God's mission of reconciliation, healing, and renewal in the world. Throughout Scripture, God calls a people not for their own sake but for the sake of the world God loves. The Church is gathered in Christ and sent in Christ.
This is especially important as we look toward Calgary. The task before us is not simply organizational. It is spiritual. We are invited to imagine the Church that future generations will inherit. That requires courage. It also requires humility. We will not discover that future through ideology, fear, or nostalgia. We will discover it only as we remain connected to the vine and attentive to the Spirit.
Jesus speaks of bearing “fruit that will last.” Lasting fruit means more than short-term success. It means life transformed by grace. It means communities marked by justice, reconciliation, hospitality, and hope. It means young people discovering their calling. It means congregations being places where Christ's love is made visible. It means a Church that reflects God's coming kingdom in the present world.
As we journey toward Calgary, may this be our confidence: We are not gathering merely because we have chosen to come together. We gather because Christ has chosen us, called us, and sent us. Therefore, we can move forward with both boldness and trust, expecting the Spirit to lead us into God's future.
Prayer
Gracious God, we thank you that before we sought you, you sought us. Remind us that we are your people, chosen by grace, called by love, and sent in the power of your Spirit.
As we prepare for the Leadership Gathering in Calgary, open our hearts to your voice. Free us from fear, pride, and attachment to what is familiar. Give us the courage to imagine what you are doing among us and the humility to follow where you lead.
Root us deeply in Christ. Unite us across cultures, generations, and perspectives. Form in us the fruits that endure: Faith, hope, love, justice, and compassion.
May all that we do bring glory to Jesus Christ and serve your mission in the world. Amen.
Read the whole series: On the Way to Calgary.
Next: Bishop Dottie Escobedo-Frank, Sunday, September 20, 2026.